The Muslim Congress, Kwara State chapter, has urged Muslims to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate actively in the 2027 elections. The call was made at the 2026 Annual Lecture of the organisation in Ilọrin. The event featured speakers who canvassed moral and spiritual reorientation, accountability, responsible leadership and continuous engagement between citizens and those in authority.
Ustadh Abdulhakeem Ishola Peleowo, a speaker at the event, said Islam offered a more comprehensive framework for addressing the challenges confronting the country. He argued that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu focused on areas including food security, national security and infrastructural development, but noted that meaningful national transformation must begin with the individual. Peleowo quoted extensively from the Qur’an and Sunnah to support his argument.
Peleowo cited examples of corruption involving former public officials, including the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, and former chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Jalal Ahmad Arabi. He said such cases demonstrated the need for Muslims to produce individuals with strong moral character who would eventually influence appointments, public institutions and wider social engagement.
The cleric also expressed concern over the quality of the education system, saying it was now producing “half-baked” students compared with what obtained in the past. He identified the media and judiciary as important institutions in rebuilding society, warning that Nigerians could not continue watching the situation deteriorate without taking deliberate steps to reverse it.
Prof Abdullateef Oladimeji, Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, praised the Muslim Congress for its programmes aimed at addressing issues affecting the society. Oladimeji said people occupying positions of authority needed a firm understanding of Islam, arguing that the problem was not merely about having Muslims in government but ensuring that those entrusted with responsibilities were properly grounded in the values of the religion.
The Grand Mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organisations, Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i, described the annual lecture as an avenue for Muslims to chart a way forward for the country. Shafi’i said leadership remained the first point of call in addressing the challenges bedevilling Nigeria, stressing that both leaders and followers had responsibilities to one another. He urged Muslims to obtain their PVCs and participate in the 2027 electoral process.
Shafi’i also called for reforms that would address both governance processes and the character of individuals occupying public positions. He said politicians had increasingly exploited the economic difficulties of citizens during elections, stressing that the people possessed significant power through their votes. The cleric urged Muslims and Christians to maintain continuous engagement with political leaders, saying citizens should not abandon their responsibility to demand accountability from those in authority.
Key points
- Muslims are charged to obtain their PVCs and participate in the 2027 elections to elect responsible leaders.
- The Muslim Congress and other Islamic organisations are advocating for moral and spiritual reorientation, accountability, and responsible leadership in Nigeria.
- Muslim leaders stress the need for Muslims to produce individuals with strong moral character who would eventually influence appointments, public institutions and wider social engagement.
